BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Junior quarterback James Cahoon (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) connected with senior wide receiver Ryan Verria (Bridgewater, Mass.) on a five-yard touchdown pass with just eight seconds left in the fourth quarter to lift the Bridgewater State University football team to a dramatic 21-17 come-from-behind victory over visiting Western Connecticut State University on Friday night in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) clash at Swenson Field.
The Bears improve to 2-2 on the season and 2-0 in the MASCAC with the key victory, while the Colonials fall to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Bridgewater State now holds a 13-11 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1971.
Trailing 17-14 late in the fourth quarter, the Bears got a big stop on defense and took over at their own 19-yard line with 4:56 showing on the clock. Bridgewater strung together a 13-play drive capped off by the clutch touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone from Cahoon to Verria with time winding down. The Bears converted on third down three times on the drive including a key defensive holding penalty in the end zone which set up the game-winning score.
Junior running back Adam Couch (Winchendon, Mass.) rushed for a season-high 165 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries to pace the BSU offense. Cahoon completed 19 of 32 pass attempts for 214 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while graduate receiver T.J. Hairston (Watertown, Mass.) pulled down six receptions for 78 yards.
Hairston became the seventh player in BSU football history to reach the 100-reception milestone as he now has 102 catches for 1,179 yards in his three-year career with the Bears.
Junior linebacker Steven Silvia (Dighton, Mass.) and sophomore linebacker Kodi Saotome (Warren, R.I.) recorded 12 tackles apiece to pace the Bears' defensive effort. Silvia also recovered a fumble, while Saotome notched his first collegiate interception. Junior linebacker Brendan Albert (Canton, Mass.) added eight tackles (six solo) with two going for loss.
Bridgewater State trailed 10-0 at halftime.
West Conn converted the opening drive of the game as the Colonials marched 65 yards on 15 plays culminating in a fumble recovery for a touchdown by senior center Anthony Gallo (Poughquag, N.Y.). Sophomore quarterback Mack Driver (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) fumbled the ball into the end zone on a quarterback sneak from the one and Gallo fell on it for the score.
On the ensuing drive, the Bears moved the ball down the Western 19-yard line but turned the ball over on downs. After an exchange of punts, the Colonials had the ball in Bridgewater territory on back-to-back possessions, but both drives ended in interceptions. Saotome and freshman safety Zachary Souza (Tyngsborough, Mass.) came up with the clutch interceptions to keep it a one-score game. Souza's pick also marked the first of his collegiate career.
Following a short BSU punt, the Colonials closed out the first half scoring with a 40-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Anthony Weidtman (Nesconet, N.Y.). Weidtman's boot split the uprights with just 25 seconds showing on the second quarter clock.
The Bears opened the second half with a five-play, 76-yard drive capped off by a Couch three-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 10-7. Cahoon complete three passes on the drive including a 22-yard strike to senior wide receiver Kyle Torres (Waltham, Mass.) and a 40-yard bomb to Hairston.
After an exchange of possessions, the Bears came up with a big turnover as sophomore defensive tackle Anton Vazquez (Nahant, Mass.) forced a fumble and Silvia recovered at the BSU 49. Seven plays later, Couch punched it in from a yard out for his second touchdown of the evening to give the hosts a 14-10 lead with 1:20 left to play in the third quarter. Couch carried the ball seven times on the drive for 36 yards.
The Colonials answered right back as Driver busted off a 48-yard touchdown run to put the visitors back on top, 17-14, with 12:49 remaining in the fourth quarter.
On the ensuing drive, the Bears put together a 12-play drive and were in position to either tie the game or take the lead. Cahoon, however, was intercepted in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 15.
The Bridgewater defense, however, came up big and, after giving up one first down, the Bears were able to force a punt to set up the last second heroics.
The Bears racked up 398 yards of offense with 184 coming on the ground led by the outstanding performance by Couch.
The Colonials, who turned the ball over three times, finished with 312 yards of total offense including 212 rushing.
Driver led the West Conn ground attack with 78 yards and the touchdown on just eight carries, while junior running back Chad Blazsky (Seldon, N.Y.) added 66 yards on 15 attempts.
Freshman quarterback John Giller (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) completed 10 of 15 pass attempts for 98 yards with a pair of interceptions. Giller also rushed for 45 yards on ten carries.
Senior safety Luke Pappalardo (Newington, Conn.) led the West Conn defense with six tackles (three solo), an interception and three pass breakups, while junior linebacker Nosa Uzamere (Hempstead, N.Y.) recorded a team-best nine tackles (eight solo).
The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams next Saturday (Oct. 2). The Bears travel to Fitchburg State University to take on the Falcons at three o'clock, while the Colonials entertain UMass Dartmouth at five.